Sector Deep Dives

Technology

The Great Merging in the Hotel and Rental Tech Sectors 2022

Lines between hotels, short-term rentals and other accommodation types are blurring, but we see little merging in the business-to-business tech spaces that support these sectors. This will change, but there are some major barriers to overcome first.

July 2022

Online Travel

A Deep Dive Into Google’s Impact on Travel 2022

The metasearch wars are drawing to a close and Google is winning. The future of independent travel metasearch in the U.S. and Europe is at risk, in our view.

April 2022

Multi-Day Tour Operators 2021: Reshaping Supply Chains and Distribution

Anyone seeking to understand leisure travel overlooks tour operators at their own risk. It is one of the last great offline sectors in the travel industry but that cannot last. Changing consumer behavior and new tech is driving disruption in these businesses, the effects of which have only been compounded by the significant impact of COVID-19.

October 2021

Technology

The State of Hotel Payments 2021

Most hoteliers would rather not think about their payment tech, as long as it works. But payment habits are changing, and so is payment tech. Hoteliers - and hotel tech vendors and investors - will want to be on top of these changes, especially now that revenues are suppressed.

September 2021

Sustainability in Travel 2021: Environmental Impact of Hotel and Airline Loyalty Programs

Travel loyalty programs really are frequency programs. As frequency is directly linked to emissions in travel, how can travel companies find environmentally friendly ways to reward its most valuable customers?

July 2021

Destinations

Sustainability in Travel 2021: Quantifying Tourism Emissions for Destinations

Tourism is often assumed to be a ‘low Impact and non-consumptive development option,’ primarily because to date greenhouse gas emissions from tourism at a destination level are largely unaccounted for. Destinations have started taking sustainability seriously with growing media pressure and traveler awareness, but have a long way to go to make significant reductions in emissions long-term.

June 2021

Hospitality

Impact of COVID-19 on the Short-Term Rental Market

Short-term or vacation rentals are being touted as the winners of the pandemic, and in many ways the sector is taking big steps to becoming mainstream. But losers are emerging, too, and the impact of the pandemic will reverberate for years to come.

May 2021

Airlines

Sustainability in Travel 2021: Environmental Performance of the Six Largest Airlines

Pressure is growing on airlines to reduce their carbon emissions. But how to do that when you burn through gallons of jet fuel? Our analysis found that airlines have made good progress in becoming more fuel efficient, but have a long way to go to make significant reductions in emissions long-term.

April 2021

Hospitality

Sustainability in Travel 2021: Emissions Benchmark of Six Global Hotel Companies

Carbon reduction is gaining importance for stakeholder groups, and reporting is getting better amongst the largest hotel companies. Our analysis finds that Accor is the current leader in emissions reduction, but all companies have areas to improve.

March 2021

Online Travel

Airbnb and the Short-Term Rental Market 2020

It’s finally here! Skift Research has been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get its hands on Airbnb’s public filings. This report analyzes the challenges and strategies of the most influential company in the short-term rental industry.

December 2020

Technology

Hotel Distribution 2020 Part II: The Tech Landscape

Hotel tech tends to be characterized by piecemeal solutions by a myriad of tech vendors, all offering a few pieces of the puzzle. Hotel distribution tech is no different. Hoteliers end up working with many tech vendors to understand demand, set the right rates, and get their rooms on the right channels. Here we provide some clarity on key issues and the vendor landscape.

November 2020

Hospitality

Hotel Distribution 2020 Part I: The Channel Mix

The hotel distribution landscape is complex, with hotel rooms being sold and promoted through many different channels. COVID-19 has certainly impacted how and where hotel rooms are being distributed, but it is unlikely that this disruption will be sustained long term. That's not to say that disruption isn't coming, though.

November 2020